You’ll always get that one person who goes out of their way to make you feel like an idiot.
You’re just minding your own business, being completely chill, and here they come with their smart alec comments meant to make them seem like a genius and you like some sort of backward fool who doesn’t know what you’re talking about. Here are some of the things you probably hear come out of their mouths.
1. “No offence, but…”
Source: Pexels This preface is almost always followed by something offensive. It’s a way of trying to insult you while deflecting responsibility. The speaker is attempting to make you feel stupid while pretending to be polite.
2. “You don’t understand…”
When someone says this, especially after you’ve expressed an opinion, they’re dismissing your perspective. They’re implying that you’re incapable of grasping the concept, rather than considering that you might have a different viewpoint.
3. “It’s actually quite simple…”
This phrase is often used to make you feel dumb for not immediately understanding something. It’s a condescending way of explaining, implying that if you don’t get it, you must be slow.
4. “I thought everyone knew that.”
This is a classic way of making someone feel out of the loop or uninformed. It’s meant to embarrass you for not knowing something, regardless of how common that knowledge actually is.
5. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
While this can be a genuine question, it’s often used to undermine your decision-making abilities. It implies that you haven’t thought things through and that your choices are questionable.
6. “You’re overthinking it.”
This dismissive comment suggests that your in-depth analysis or concern is unnecessary. It’s a way of belittling your thought process and implying that you’re making things more complicated than they need to be.
7. “Let me dumb it down for you.”
This is an overtly condescending way of explaining something. It directly implies that you’re not smart enough to understand without special accommodation.
8. “I’m surprised you didn’t know that.”
Similar to “I thought everyone knew that,” this phrase is meant to make you feel ignorant. It suggests that your lack of knowledge on a particular topic is unexpected and disappointing.
9. “You’re taking this too seriously.”
Source: Unsplash This comment dismisses your concerns or passion as overreaction. It’s a way of making you feel stupid for caring or putting effort into something.
10. “That’s not how it works in the real world.”
Source: Unsplash This phrase dismisses your ideas or suggestions as naive. It implies that you lack real-world experience or understanding, positioning the speaker as more knowledgeable.
11. “You’re too sensitive.”
Source: Unsplash When someone says this, they’re invalidating your feelings and implying that your emotional response is an overreaction. It’s a way of making you feel stupid for having legitimate emotions.
12. “I was only joking. Can’t you take a joke?”
Source: Unsplash This is often said after making an offensive comment. It’s a way of shifting blame onto you for being offended, rather than taking responsibility for saying something hurtful.
13. “You must have misunderstood.”
This phrase implies that any disagreement or issue must be due to your lack of comprehension, not their poor communication or differing viewpoints.
14. “I don’t have time to explain it to you.”
While sometimes genuine, this can also be a way of avoiding explanation because they assume you won’t understand anyway. It implies that you’re not worth the time it would take to explain.
15. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”
This dismissive comment suggests that your current perspective is invalid due to your age or perceived lack of experience. It’s a way of shutting down discussion by implying you’re too immature to understand.
16. “It’s not rocket science.”
Source: Unsplash This phrase implies that something should be easy to understand, and if you’re struggling with it, you must be unintelligent. It dismisses the fact that different people find different things challenging.
17. “Why can’t you be more like…”
Comparing you to someone else in a not-so-flattering way is a way of making you feel inadequate. It implies that your way of thinking or doing things is inferior.
18. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
This dismisses your concerns or feelings as insignificant. It’s a way of making you feel stupid for caring about something the speaker deems unimportant.
19. “Don’t you think that’s a bit…?”
Source: Unsplash Leaving this phrase hanging is a subtle way of criticising your ideas or actions. It implies that there’s something wrong with your thinking, without directly saying it.
20. “I’m just playing devil’s advocate.”
While this can be a useful discussion technique, it’s often used to disguise criticism or contrary opinions. It can make you feel like your viewpoint is constantly under attack.
21. “You’re reading too much into it.”
Source: Unsplash This phrase dismisses your analysis or interpretation as overthinking. It implies that you’re seeing things that aren’t there, rather than considering that you might have valid insights.
22. “I’m surprised you managed to do that.”
Source: Unsplash This backhanded compliment implies that you’re usually incapable. It’s a way of expressing disbelief in your abilities while pretending to praise you.
